e painful operation of dressing his wounded
forehead.

"At this time, it appeared that victory had already declared itself
in our favour; for, though L'Orient, L'Heureux, and Le Tonnant,
were not taken possession of, they were considered as completely in
our power: which pleasing intelligence Captain Berry had likewise
the satisfaction of communicating in person to the admiral.

"At ten minutes after nine, a fire was observed on board L'Orient,
the French admiral's ship, which seemed to proceed from the after
part of the cabin; and which increased with great rapidity,
presently involving the whole of the after part of the ship in
flames. This circumstance Captain Berry immediately communicated to
the admiral; who, though suffering severely from his wound, came
immediately on deck: where, the first consideration that struck his
benevolent mind was, concern for the danger of so many lives; to
save as many as possible of whom, he ordered Captain Berry to make
every practicable exertion. A boat, the only one that could swim,
was instantly dispatched from the Vanguard; and other ships, that
were in a condition to do so, immediately followed the example: by
which means, from the best possible information, the lives of about
seventy Frenchmen were saved. The light thrown by the fire of
L'Orient on the surrounding objects, enabled the commanders to
perceive, with more certainty, the situation of the two fleets, the
colours of both being clearly distinguishable. The cannonading was
partially kept up to leeward of the centre till about ten o'clock,
when L'Orient blew up with a most tremendous explosion.

"An awful pause, and death-like silence, for about three minutes,
ensued; when the wreck of the masts, yards, &c. which had been
carried to a vast height, fell down into the water, and on board
the surrounding ships. A port fire from L'Orient fell into the
main-royal of the Alexander; the fire occasioned by which was,
however, extinguished in about two minutes, by the active exertions
of Captain Ball.

"After this awful scene, the firing recommenced with the ships to
leeward of the centre, till twenty minutes past ten; when there was
a total cessation of firing, for about ten minutes: after which, it
was revived till about three in the morning; when,